There is a NEW process for SCC faculty >> Bb - Course Requests for Spring 2007 (http://scc.losrios.edu/~bbsite/course). The form is an Acrobat document with interactive buttons. Windows and Mac users will be able to use Acrobat Reader v6 - 7 or 8 to submit requests.
The new Bb 7.1 test server is available. This is not a "production server" and you will notice it is slow as more users interact with it. So right now, there are just a handfull of faculty at each campus exploring the differences between our current system and what will be in use for Spring 2007. There are two primary areas for faculty to explore: Discussion Boards and Assessments. Marsha Conley at ARC has prepared a handout detailing these changes, download it at http://scc.losrios.edu/~bbsite/bb7-1updates_conley.doc.
As you login and explore this version of Blackboard, keep in mind that your courses were copied in September 2006 and you will probably not see students in your gradebooks. Any changes you make on the test server will disappear.
The current server is the one that will be updated in January 2007. Make any changes you want to your current live courses NOW -- just make the items invisible to Fall 2006 students. In January, you can delete old information and reset the visibility of hidden items.
BIG TIP - for Testing Bb 7.1 - make screen snapshots of screens so you can view them offline while you revise your handouts.
WINDOWS - locate the [Print Scrn] key on the top row of your keyboard. Use this in conjunction with the [Alt] key. Open your web browser to Bb, open Powerpoint with many empty slides and you are ready to go. To flip between these two applications, use the [Alt] + [Tab] keys. In your web browser, turn off any extra toolbars and navigation buttons so you see a maximum of "screen real estate." The window does not have to fill the monitor for this screen capture process. Plan to step though the process [posting to the discussion board] so each screen will be a reminder of the step-by-step process. Summary of the process: Set the Bb view in your web browser, press [Print Scrn] + [Alt], flip to Powerpoint and paste the image on a slide [Ctrl] + [v], flip back to Bb and make the next move ... repeat the capture process. Save your Powerpoint file often.
MACINTOSH - The Mac operating system lets you capture pictures of anything on your computer screen with just the keyboard. Each time you snap a picture, a new file is created and the file name includes a number that increments with each new picture. Make a desktop folder for Bb Discussion Forums .. and drag all your pictures into the folder. The THREE keys you will use simeotaneously are [Apple] + [Shift]+ [4] and the cursor changes to a cross-hair target - hold the mouse down at the top left corner and drag to the bottom right corner. If you want these images in Powerpoint, open PPT, create an empty slide for each image. Arrange the PPT window so you see your desktop and the slide. Drag an image icon from the desktop to the slide and let go. The image will appear on the slide.
Los Rios has contracted for 27/7 Help Desk support for students and faculty. The HELP tab now includes the original help information and more. This new Knowledge Base and toll-free phone support has been helpful during the start of the semester. Please browse the information and try the service yourself.
See all Blackboard related tips at http://web.scc.losrios.edu/instrdev/bb.
Tune up your browser settings with the information on the Browser Tune Up page.
Sacramento
City College
3835 Freeport Boulevard · Sacramento, California 95822
This page was last updated: Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 9:17:00 PM
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